S1 beginning dance final

Pirouette

A complete turn of the body on one foot in relevé with correct body placement.

Tendu

Leg and foot are stretched away from the body - toes remaining on the ground.

Arabesque

A position in which the dancer balances on one leg with the other leg extended behind (first, second, third).

Jeté

Name for a jump taking off from one leg and landing on the other.

Piqué turn

Means 'pricked' referring to the action of stepping directly onto demi-point between pirouettes in this series of turns.

Spotting

A movement of the head and focusing of the eyes; prevents the dancer from becoming dizzy.

Plié

A bend of the knees over the toes with the weight of the body evenly distributed on both feet.

Relevé

Lifted or raised up on the half-toe or demi-point.

Chaînés

A sequence of tiny half turns done alternately on one foot and then the other with the whole body perfectly balanced & turned out.

Turn out

A position in which the legs rotate outward from the hip socket.

Parallel

A position in which the thighs, knees, and toes of both legs are facing straight ahead.

Chassé

A step in which one foot chases the other foot out of its position.

Pas de bourrée

Way of changing feet; never have both feet on the floor at the same time.

Grapevine

A step involving side-back-side-front movement.

Opposition

A natural process of spiraling; ex: when the right leg comes forward, the left arm will come forward.

Battement

An exercise in which the working leg is raised from the hip into the air and brought down again.

Passé

Foot of the working leg is attached to the front, back, or occasionally the side of the knee of the supporting leg.

Degagé

Pointing of the foot with a fully arched instep and disengaging from the floor.

Sickle

Aesthetically unattractive shape of the foot in which the heel drops backward and the toes come forward.

Symmetry

The balanced proportions of the body.

Stability

The ability to maintain equilibrium.

Asymmetry

Unevenness in the body's structure or movement.

Alignment

The relationship of the skeleton to the line of gravity and base of support.